FCC Proposes New Net Neutrality Rules

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a new designation of the Internet as a public utility.

A long-standing political debate has clouded the issue for many.

Net neutrality, defined as treatment of all Internet traffic equally, allowing no Internet service provider (ISP) to privilege their own content.

Last year, the FCC announced new rules which would enable ISPs to fast-track content provided by those willing to pay a higher price. This decision brought on extensive protest.

Republicans are proposing an investigation of the FCC and President Obama with regards to the new proposal, claiming that the White House unduly influenced the decision.

Why It Matters

The issue of net neutrality has the potential to shape the Internet as we know it. Some say unimpinged access to all content is the entire goal of the Internet, and any impediment to access to knowledge, and even entertainment, threatens to ruin that goal. The FCC, whose non-partisan stance is frequently called into question by both sides, has confirmed recently that they are in fact reversing course and seeking true net neutrality. How this will affect e-commerce, business transactions, personal usage, and even further legislation has yet to be seen.

Opinion One

The Internet as we know it currently is a relatively recent construction. While business entered into the fray in the ’80s and ’90s, content has been largely spared due to the non-centralized nature of networks. However, media consolidation and the growing power of telecommunications businesses has threatened the neutral platform of the Internet. ISPs have proposed or attempted to privilege certain content provider’s traffic in response to them paying for such a benefit. Establishing the Internet as a Class II utility would restirct ISPs from doing just that.

Opinion Two

Any government intrusion into the framework of the Internet could potentially taint the very free nature of the network itself. Overregulation could result in a chilling effect on innovation and investment in what has become one of our nation’s fastest growing sectors – technology. The FCC, and even Congress itself, cannot possibly move fast enough to keep up with the speed of change in the tech sector and this further regulation would serve to guarantee that.